Pollution Control Board shuts Tirupur button dyeing units

February 21, 2012 (India)

The Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has closed around 100-150 garment button dyeing units in the knitwear hub of Tirupur over the last fortnight, after the Board officials found coloured water emanating from these units reaching the Noyyal river.

Mr. Ravichandran, Assistant District Environmental Engineer with TNPCB, told fibre2fashion, “The button dyeing units are operating at a very small scale and with very low investment levels in Tirupur. These units are unauthorized, and are operated in houses, without any license.”

“Recently, we have closed down some of these button dyeing units, as we came across instances of installation of some machines in these units for dyeing fabrics, in view of the demand in the market,” he explains.

Elaborating further, he says, “On receiving complaints from farmers that coloured water is still going in the river Noyyal, despite closure of all dyeing units in Tirupur, we undertook a survey and found that the button dyeing units are taking advantage of the situation and have installed fabric dyeing machines and started the dyeing process.”

“According to the court order, we will have to take some severe action against the discharging of coloured water in the river Noyyal. Hence, we have taken action against and closed down button dyeing units,” he informed.

Putting across his view point, Mr. R Muthaiyyan, Secretary, Small Industries Button Zippers and Accessories Lab Association (SIBLA), Tirupur, argues, “The button dyeing units in Tirupur are a small scale industry, and we operate in houses. We use the vessels and materials that are used in the everyday kitchen for various purposes in order to dye the buttons, zips and other small garment accessories. So, we cannot use and we are not using poisonous materials in our units. We are using only the dyes for materials like polyester and nylon, which are quite eco-friendly.”

“However, TNPCB says it is a court order and nobody can discharge the coloured water outside, following which they are sealing our units. We have already approached the Minister for Environment and Chairman of TNPCB, who have promised that they will come up with some good suggestions, but we have not heard from them as yet, and around 100-150 units have been closed down by TNPCB,” he adds.

Seeking a solution to the issue, he says, “The government should provide some alternate solutions so that we can restart the units and continue with our businesses.”

On the other hand, Mr. Ravichandran has a different opinion and says, “The button dyeing units would have to come out with an alternate plan for discharging the coloured water. There is already a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) existing and there is space for erection of more CETPs. Around 15-20 units can join together and use a CETP. We are opening around 20 CETPs, so these units can approach the government for permission and start using them.”